Improvement in self-closing hatchways



1. w. MEAKEB. Self-Clusi'ng Hatchways.-

Patentedlune 9,1874.

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UNITED STATES JOHN W. MEAKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN -IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-CLOSING HATCHWAVS.

Specification forming part. of Letters Patent No. 15 1,708, dated JuLe 9, 1h74; application tiled July 15, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. MEAKER, of Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented' an Improvement in Devices for Closing Elevator-Hatchways, of which the following is a specification:

As is well known, hoistways or elevators have heretofore been provided with lift-covers for the hatchways in the floors, so arranged as to be carried up by the car or platform as it ascends, and deposited or left in the opening for which it is designed in its descent; but as the openings are left unguarded when the lifts or covers are carried up, the object of my invention is to provide in addition to these lift-covers another series of closers, constructed and arranged, with certain mechanism, under the car or platform, so that they may follow itin its ascent and close the openings as it passes, and also so that they may be carried down by its descent, as hereinafter explained.

Figure l is a sectional perspective View of a three story building having` its elevatorhat-chways tted with my improved self-closing hatches, the elevator-platform resting on the lower iloor. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, showing the platform at the upper hatchway and the lower ones closed. Fig. 3 is a crosssection at :v in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the left side of the platform, showing a modification of the device used for carrying up a cover on the lower side of the platform and leaving it at a hatch above the lower floor. Fig. 5 is a detail plan of thesame, showing` a portion of the platform in horizontal section.

In the drawing, A A1 A2 represent, respectively, the first, second, and third oors of a building having hatchways cut in the latter two, in which are erected the elevator guideposts B B, between which the platform is raised and lowered by means of the hoist-rope D, 'in any convenient manner. E2 is a cover fitted loosely into the hatchway, and is placed under the platform. It is notched, as at c3, in each corner to pass the corner-blocks o2 of the middle hatchway. One way of operating it is by cords andweights, which we willnow describe: From each side projects a bar, d, to which is secured a cord, e, led through a hole in the second floor over apulley, f, pendent from the third Hoor, thence through the eye of a counter-weight, g, and made fast to an eye, 7L, pendent from the third iloor. As the platform rises the counter-weights fall and draw up the cover E2 until the bars d strike the under side of the second floor, which arrests the cover, and thus closes the hatchway. To prevent the hatch from falling when a person steps 011 it, or a heavy object is placed thereon, we employ two spring latch-bolts7 one at the front and the other at the back end ofthe hatchway. i, Fig. 3, is a bolt placed in a frame, j, secured to the under side of the second iloor, and is shot forward past the combing of the hatchway byaspring, k, spirally coiled about it between a shoulder and the back end of the frame. Z is acam projecting fromthefront and back edges ofthe platform, which push back the latch-bolts as the platform passes up or down. As it passes up the bolts recede, and shootforward again as soon as the cover passes up,.and thus form a support for it. When the platform approaches the hatchway in goingdown, the cams projecting from it push back the bolts, when, in the continued descent of the platform, the cover is carried down with it. .Io avoid the use of the cords and weights, where they would prove objectionable, we employ the devices shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, consisting of an angular T-headed springbolt, m, mortised in each side of the platform. At each side of the cover E2 is a notched plate, n, standing vertically, (the cover is widerthan the platform,) which notch receives the side of the bolt-head, and thus locks the cover to the platform. In the sides of the second-floor hatchway are two stationary cams, o, which, as the platform passes up, push back the bolts m and release the cover E2, which is then supported by the springbolts i i platform passes down again.

There are many ways in which the lifts or covers on the upper side of the car or platform may be and have been applied and operated. In all eases they may be carried up or lifted by the platform as it ascends. In its descentthey may be suspended in the openings, or supported therein by projecting rims or blocks, as shown, a being a frame supported by brackets b springing from the top of the platform-cage. 0n this frame rests alhatch or until the loose cover, E, and upon this lies a similar one, E1, each having a hole, through which the hoist-rope passes to the girt. Each corner of the hatch E may have a notch, c', cut in it, and in each corner of the upper hatchway there may be a rectangular supporting-block, c, Fig. 2, spiked in it, but not large enough to arrest the platform in its descent. Each corner ofthe hatchway in the second floor may have a block, e2, which is larger than the notch, which thus arrests and supports the hatch after the pla tform has passed down, and thus closes the hatchway of the second floor. The hatch E1 is arrested by the blocks c at the corners of the upper hatchway, which it closes Whenever the platform passes down. lVhen it passes up it takes these loose hatch-covers on its frame, the platform itself closing the upper hatchway.

I do not, however, claim any of these differ- JOHN W. MEAKER.

W'itnesscs:

H. F. EBERTs, H. S. SPRAGUE. 

